Kenyan MP Alleges military Incursion from ethiopia

[Liqaye]

Nairobi

 

The Ethiopian military and militiamen have invaded Kenya through Moyale, the House was told.

 

Three villages had been raided by the foreign force, Moyale MP Guracha Galgalo (Kanu) informed the House, after which the Opposition accused the Government of doing nothing about the invasion.

 

 

An assistant minister in the President's Office, Mr Stephen Tarus, who was bombarded with questions, failed to offer a satisfactory explanation about the Government's action on the matter.

 

His remarks that a military detachment based in Moyale would tackle the invaders did not go down well with members.

 

Galgalo said he had received reports of the invasion yesterday, adding that locals had fled their homes for fear of being attacked.

 

He added that about 50 people, dressed in military fatigue, stopped two passenger vehicles, robbed and harassed people before abducting a boy.

 

The MP, who had stood to speak on a point of order after question time, said the Medical Officer of Health for Moyale had also been abducted and was being tortured in Ethiopian cells.

 

The MP, who expressed his anger by banging the dispatch table as he spoke, charged that the Government had done nothing to contain the situation.

 

Tarus, who had been asked to furnish the House with a ministerial statement yesterday on the matter, asked to be allowed to do so on Tuesday.

 

However, his response angered opposition MPs, with most of them standing up simultaneously to protest.

 

Galgalo demanded that the minister explain what the Government would do to control the situation as the statement was being awaited.

 

"Mr Speaker, can the minister order the military to deploy and contain the situation," he pleaded.

 

Deputy Speaker David Musila said the matter was serious as the country's security was in jeopardy.

 

He ordered Tarus to tell the House what the Government had done in the meantime before he delivered the statement on Tuesday.

 

The minister sparked more anger when he said he had information that it was not the Ethiopian military but militias who had crossed over into Kenya.

 

The Government would use the military to repel the raiders, he said, adding that displaced people would be supplied with relief food.

 

At this point, Kajiado Central MP Joseph Nkaissery (Kanu) said Tarus was probably unaware of the international procedures to be followed in such circumstances.

 

Nkaissery, a former top army officer, said the Government should approach the problem by first summoning the Ethiopian ambassador to make an official protest.

 

The second step, the MP went on, would require the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to call Kenya's ambassador in Ethiopia and direct him to protest to the Ethiopian Government.

 

Nkaissery, who was applauded during his contribution, added that the third step would entail the deployment of the military to contain the situation.

 

 

 

 

 

"Mr Speaker, we cannot afford to do nothing as our country is being invaded. If this Government has failed, it should resign," he remarked amid applause.

 

Tarus said the Government would give diplomacy a chance before taking any military action.